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'Hunger Games,' 'Divergent' Theme Parks in the Works in Macau, Atlanta

The studio's popular film properties will be licensed for destination attractions to be built by Chinese and American partners.

Lionsgate plans to license its film properties to new theme parks being built around the Hunger Games and Divergent film franchises near Macau and Atlanta, Georgia, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

In one deal, Lionsgate is backing Chinese developer Lia Fung and parent eSun as they build a 22,000 square-meter entertainment center in Hengqin, China, a town near Macau. The Lai Sun theme park will feature interactive fan experiences and attractions from six Lionsgate movie properties, including the Hunger Games, Divergent and Now You See Me franchises.

The Macau attraction is slated to open in late 2018. And a second agreement with U.S. developer Avatron Smart Park will see Lionsgate film properties like the Hunger Games, Now You See Me and Step Up franchises anchor a roughly 100-acre theme park near Atlanta with attractions and rides.

The attraction in Atlanta, where the Hunger Games franchise has filmed its movies, is set to launch in 2019. The New York Times first reported on Lionsgate expanding its theme park plans with new IP licensing deals for movie-based attractions in Macau and Atlanta.

Lionsgate in recent years has eyed theme park attractions and other location-based entertainment opportunities to generate new revenues from its Hunger Games, Divergent and other movie franchises. The studio made earlier announcements for an exhibit, The Hunger Games: The Exhibition, now touring museums and other institutions in the U.S., a StageAround live theater production to launch in the U.K. next year and the Motiongate theme park to debut in Dubai next year.

Updated Nov. 2, 13:50 p.m. New information provided to indicate Lionsgate is licensing its IP for new theme parks in Macau and Atlanta, and not building the attractions as previously noted.